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You are here: Home / Appetizers / Cheesy Italian Dunkers Recipe

Cheesy Italian Dunkers Recipe

July 28, 2016 By Joe Boyle 2 Comments

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Last Updated on January 29, 2025

Cheesy Italian Dunkers!  You get home from work. You’re tired. The kids have baseball tonight or soccer. Give yourself a break and make something simple for dinner.  Everyone loves this simple meal.

Cheesy bread on a plate with a bowl of marinara sauce.

Jump To Contents:

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  • How To Make Italian Dunkers
    • Ingredients Needed
    • Substitutions
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Serving The Italian Dunkers
  • And Be Sure To Check Out These Tasty Italian Inspired Recipes
  • Cheesy Italian Dunkers Recipe

These cheesy toasts are like the Italian dunkers that you would get in grade school lunch. They are easy to make and provide for a stomach filling experience. You probably already have all of the ingredients on hand to make this easy meal. 

How To Make Italian Dunkers

Ingredients Needed

Just a few items are required to make this easy recipe.

First, an Italian baguette or some other hearty white bread. Sourdough bread works well for these. You could even use hot dog buns!

Tasty Italian dunking bread with marinara sauce. Next, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. I prefer to use block cheese which is then hand shredded. You could use pre-shredded cheese too. The pre-shredded cheeses are treated with ingredients to prevent them from clumping in the bag. Hand shredded cheese will melt better and have a fresher taste. 

Butter and garlic powder is used to spread on the bread for added flavor. ๏ฟผ

Then for dipping, marinara sauce of your choice.

Substitutions

  • Use different cheeses. Here are some melty cheeses that could also be used: Gruyere, Havarti, Fontina, Muenster, Colby, or Provolone. 
  • For a pleasant variety, use a Mexican melting cheese such as Queso Fresco, Queso Quesadilla, or Oaxaca. Then serve with salsa dip on the side.

Italian dunkers with mozzarella on a baking sheet, ready to melt.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Start by preheating your oven to 400ยฐ F, (205ยฐ C).

Then, place the butter in a small bowl and melt in a microwave oven. This should take about 30 seconds. Stir in the garlic powder.   

Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and brush the garlic butter on each slice. Generously top the bread with shredded Parmesan then Mozzarella. Be careful to not drop the cheese onto the baking sheet. Burnt on cheese is sometimes hard to clean off.

If desired, you could use a separate plate to spread the cheese then transfer the slice to the baking sheet. Also, you could line your baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Slide the baking sheet into your preheated oven and the cheese should be melting and starting to brown in 15 to 20 minutes. 

Italian dunkers with grated mozzarella.

Serving The Italian Dunkers

Serve with marinara sauce in a bowl on the side. Heat up the sauce slightly in your microwave for best flavor. Use any favorite jarred marinara sauce or make your own sauce using my easy marinara sauce recipe. You only need a cup or two.

Cheesy Italian toasts with marinara sauce.

To balance this meal nutritionally, serve a nice fruit salad on the side with strawberries, banana, blueberries, or pineapple. 

Make this cheesy Italian Dunkers recipe and get those kids to their game.

Get all of my vegetarian dishes here – Vegetarian Dishes @Joe’s Healthy Meals
 

And Be Sure To Check Out These Tasty Italian Inspired Recipes:

  • Stove-top Italian Chicken
  • Italian Seasoned Grilled Chicken Recipe
  • Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups Recipe
Cheesy Italian dunking toasts with marinara sauce.

Cheesy Italian Dunkers Recipe

Delicious appetizer or easy meal for families on the run.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main dish or appetizer
Cuisine: Italian inspired
Keyword: cheesy Italian dunkers, Italian dunkers, Italian dunkers school lunch, recipe for Italian dunkers
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 423kcal
Author: Joe Boyle

Ingredients

  • 8 slices Italian baguette, sourdough bread or other sturdy white bread
  • 4 tbsp salted butter
  • 2 tsp . garlic powder
  • 4 oz . Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • 1-2 cups marinara sauce
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Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 400ยฐF.
  • Put butter in a small bowl and place in microwave to melt, 30 secs. Then stir in the garlic powder.
  • Line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Then, lay out bread on the baking sheet and brush with the garlic butter, (one side only).
  • Add the shredded Parmesan cheese to the bread then with the Mozzarella cheese.
  • Place in the oven until the cheese is melted and is starting to brown, 15 to 20 mins.
  • Heat marinara sauce on the stove top or in a microwave.
  • Serve the bread slices hot with the marinara sauce on the side.

Notes

  1. Substitute the cheese with any good melting cheese of your choice.
  2. For a pleasant variety, use a Mexican melting cheese such as Queso Fresco, Queso Quesadilla, or Oaxaca. Then serve with salsa dip on the side.

Nutrition

Calories: 423kcal
Cheesy Italian Dunkers Pinterest collage.

Collage of cheese bread and marinara sauce in a bowl.
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Filed Under: Appetizers, Meals, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Caitlyn

    April 18, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    A delicious quick meal for a weeknight or a lazy night! I use hotdog buns and shredded cheese and my boyfriend loves them. Nostalgia. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Joe

      April 18, 2021 at 3:48 pm

      Hi Caitlyn,
      I’m glad that you found my blog.
      Never thought of hot dog buns, but that sounds great. Super easy and tasty.
      Thanks for commenting.
      Joe

      Reply
5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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